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Canon 550D vs Sony A550

Portability
70
Imaging
58
Features
63
Overall
60
Canon EOS 550D front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58

Canon 550D vs Sony A550 Key Specs

Canon 550D
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Expand to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 530g - 129 x 98 x 62mm
  • Revealed April 2010
  • Additionally Known as EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4
  • Older Model is Canon 500D
  • Renewed by Canon 600D
Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Released December 2009
  • Older Model is Sony A100
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Canon 550D vs Sony A550 Overview

Here is a extended assessment of the Canon 550D versus Sony A550, both Entry-Level DSLR cameras by manufacturers Canon and Sony. There is a significant difference among the sensor resolutions of the 550D (18MP) and A550 (14MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor size (APS-C).

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The 550D was launched 4 months later than the A550 and they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact SLR).

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the 550D grades versus the A550 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon 550D over the Sony A550

 550D A550 
Display resolution1040k922kClearer display (+118k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Canon 550D

 A550 550D 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Canon 550D and Sony A550

 550D A550 
ReleasedApril 2010December 2009Same generation
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Canon 550D vs Sony A550 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera frequently, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon 550D has physical measurements of 129mm x 98mm x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") with a weight of 530 grams (1.17 lbs) whilst the Sony A550 has proportions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") with a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs).

Contrast the Canon 550D versus Sony A550 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are utilising during that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the 550D compared to the A550.

Canon 550D vs Sony A550 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the 550D and A550 is 70 and 63 respectively.

Canon 550D vs Sony A550 top view buttons comparison

Canon 550D vs Sony A550 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizing just by researching technical specs. The photograph below will offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the 550D and A550.

As you have seen, both of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Canon 550D to provide you with more detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos more aggressively.

Canon 550D vs Sony A550 sensor size comparison

Canon 550D vs Sony A550 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 550D vs Sony A550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 550D as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A550 as a Portrait photography camera
74
focusing manually
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
72
focusing manually
decent MP (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon 550D Street photography advice
Sony A550 Street photography advice
60
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
no image stabilization
74
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon 550D
Sports photography with Sony A550
54
decent megapixels (18MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
not so great battery (470 per charge)
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
bad battery power (480 per charge)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon 550D
Travel photography with Sony A550
55
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
not so great battery (470 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
52
decent MP (14MP)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse function
bad battery power (480 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 550D Landscape photography info
Sony A550 Landscape photography info
63
focusing manually
swap lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
not so great battery (470 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
66
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
bad battery power (480 per charge)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon 550D
Vlogging with Sony A550
31
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone support
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
9
can't shoot video
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Canon 550D vs Sony A550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 550D and Sony A550
 Canon EOS 550DSony Alpha DSLR-A550
General Information
Brand Canon Sony
Model type Canon EOS 550D Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Also referred to as EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4 -
Type Entry-Level DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2010-04-01 2009-12-09
Physical type Compact SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 332.3mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5184 x 3456 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max boosted ISO 12800 -
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens support Canon EF/EF-S Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 326 143
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT color liquid-crystal LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.53x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/200 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format H.264 -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 530 grams (1.17 pounds) 632 grams (1.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 129 x 98 x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 66 66
DXO Color Depth rating 22.0 21.9
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.6 11.8
DXO Low light rating 807 807
Other
Battery life 470 photographs 480 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E8 NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 sec or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $599 $749